Taleban says 21 S. Korean hostages still alive

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 08-02-2007 08:52

South Korean newspapers carry front-page pictures of grieving Bae Ho-Jung, father of Bae Hyung-Kyu who was killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan.(AFP/Jung Yeon-Je)

The Taliban says the remaining 21 South Korean hostages it's holding are still alive. But there is a possibility the kidnappers may start killing them as the Afghan government hasn't responded to the Taliban demands.

The Taliban says all 21 hostages are alive despite Wednesday's deadline expiring. This comes after the militants warned they would start killing the captives unless the Afghan government freed jailed insurgents.

The Afghan government has refused to give in to demands to free Taliban prisoners, saying that will only encourage further abductions.

Meanwhile, the Afghan army has dropped leaflets in several districts in Ghazni warning residents to move to secure areas to avoid civilian casualties during an operation that will be launched in the coming weeks.

The military says it will be a routine operation not linked with the kidnapping. Both Afghan and foreign troops are stationed in the area.

The militants still want officials to meet their key demand to release Taliban prisoners in exchange for the lives of the hostages.

Several previous deadlines have passed with no killings, but two hostages have already died at the militants' hands.

Editor:Du Xiaodan